DIGITAL HEALTH INTERVENTION FOR HIV PREVENTION AND CARE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF MHEALTH AND EHEALTH STRATEGIES

Abstract

Background: Digital health interventions, including mobile health (mHealth) and electronic health (eHealth) tools, are increasingly being used to improve HIV prevention and care. These interventions offer innovative solutions for enhancing antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake, HIV self-testing, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education, particularly among key populations in resource-limited settings. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were searched for studies published between January 2020 and July 2025. Eligible studies included mHealth or eHealth interventions targeting HIV-related outcomes among key populations. Data extraction included study characteristics, intervention types, key findings, system strengthening areas, barriers/enablers, strategies used, and outcomes. Results: A total of 22 studies (13 mHealth and 9 eHealth) met the inclusion criteria. Interventions included mobile applications, SMS reminders, telemedicine, gamified platforms, and AI-driven tools. These interventions demonstrated improvements in ART adherence, PrEP uptake, HIV self-testing, and SRH knowledge. Common barriers included privacy concerns, stigma, limited digital literacy, and infrastructural challenges, while key enablers included gamification, motivational messaging, peer support, and community mobilization. Conclusion: mHealth and eHealth interventions show promising outcomes in improving HIV prevention and care. However, issues related to privacy, equity, and infrastructure remain significant challenges. Integrating these tools into existing healthcare systems, ensuring data security, and conducting large-scale trials are crucial for achieving sustainable impact.